Activision has released a new Call of Duty title every year, and typically follows each launch with a highly publicised announcement highlighting strong sales or record-breaking player numbers. However, the publisher has remained unusually quiet in the week since Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 launched, prompting questions about how well the game has actually performed.
The silence comes at a time when Black Ops 7 faces intense competition from Battlefield 6 and holds a Metacritic score of just 69. The absence of any celebratory statement has led some to wonder whether Activision may be less satisfied with the game’s early sales results and whether the long-running annual franchise may finally be showing signs of fatigue among players.
The difference from previous years is clear. Social media user NerosCinema highlighted that 2022’s Modern Warfare II was promoted as “the number one Call of Duty launch of all time,” while 2023’s Modern Warfare III was celebrated for having “the highest engagement in the new Modern Warfare trilogy.” Last year’s Black Ops 6 launch was marked by Activision calling it the “biggest Call of Duty 2-day opening ever.” In contrast, the company’s 17 November post for Black Ops 7 included no such claims, stating only that the team had seen “a great response” across “opening weekend.”
Activision’s latest post about Black Ops 7 is interesting. They do this every year, but note the difference in tone surrounding Black Ops 7 compared to others
— NerosCinema (@NerosCinema) November 18, 2025
MWII: #1 Call of Duty Launch of All-Time
MWIII: Historic Launch, broke MW engagement records
BO6: #1 in Players, Hours,… pic.twitter.com/iBfSSGPY0G
This restrained approach differs sharply from the announcement made just two days after Black Ops Cold War was released in 2020, when Activision declared: “Friday’s release of Black Ops Cold War set a new record as the highest first day digital sales worldwide in franchise history.”
Competition and challenges in the market
It may simply be early days for Activision to share performance details, but market data suggests Black Ops 7 may be facing a tougher environment than its predecessors. The Game Business reported on 21 November that Black Ops 7’s weekend launch sales were 63 per cent lower than Battlefield 6’s in Europe, and more than 50 per cent lower than last year’s Black Ops 6.
The game’s reception has also been mixed. Although Black Ops 7 attempts to take the series in new directions, its campaign—which follows on from 2012’s Black Ops 2 and features actors Milo Ventimiglia, Michael Rooker, and Kiernan Shipka—has left many players confused due to its dramatic and unconventional narrative choices. The instalment was also caught up in recent criticism over the use of generative AI for in-game artwork, sparking further debate among fans.
Meanwhile, Battlefield 6 entered the market as a major competitor. It was the best-selling game in the United States in October. It delivered the “highest single month US physical and digital full game tracked dollar sales total in three years,” according to Circana’s director of game research, Mat Piscatella. The last title to reach similar sales levels was Modern Warfare II, underscoring the scale of competition Black Ops 7 faces.
What the future may hold for the franchise
If Black Ops 7 fails to meet Activision’s expectations, it could prompt discussions about the future of the annual release cycle. Some fans have long hoped for a break from the strict yearly schedule, suggesting that studios such as Infinity Ward, Treyarch, Sledgehammer, and Raven could create more ambitious and innovative experiences if given more development time.
They also point to long-standing technical frustrations, including the Call of Duty launcher, which continues to complicate the download process by requiring numerous additional packs. A slower release cadence could allow developers to refine both gameplay and user experience.
Still, the franchise’s future direction remains uncertain. Activision may choose to continue with the established pattern of regular releases or refresh the series with remasters or new concepts. As some fans jokingly suggest, a title like Call of Duty: Black Ops: Remastered: Revamped next year might still provoke strong reactions—positive or otherwise.
Despite the questions surrounding Black Ops 7’s launch, interest in the game remains high, with many players continuing to explore its multiplayer modes and story content.
